In an effort to improve military units’ ability to detect enemy
forces, the IDF Ground Forces Command is developing a miniature radar
system that could be used in reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

IDF battalions and brigades rely on unmanned aerial vehicles as well
as some electro-optic land systems for reconnaissance missions, but
they are not equipped with radars, due to their relatively high cost
and large size.

The Ground Forces Command has contacted local defense contractors in
a bid to develop a small radar with a range of just a few kilometers
that weighs no more than 20 kilograms and can be carried on a
soldier’s back.

The radars would be used by reconnaissance squads in infantry and
armored battalions which would deploy them ahead of the main force
and search for enemy forces.

The data the radar provided would then be transferred back to the
battalion’s command post where commanders could automatically
dispatch UAVs to provide live footage of the suspected enemy force.

“This would enable forces to accurately see who is coming and
immediately engage enemy targets,” a senior officer from the Ground
Forces Command explained.